2015.
Preface
Many years ago, in a country of cold and craziness, a fire started to burn. And when a fire starts to burn, right, and it starts to spread, well, things spread I guess. I like to think of it as a bright burning flame of adventure. Adventure, with ambition as its fuel. And through adventure and ambition, the decisions in the past years have all accumulated to how I think, where I am, what I do, and where I want to go. However, I have noticed that at times, I measure my adventures against those of my peers, rather than pursuing adventures for the sake of my own happiness. Perhaps for the wrong reasons, I have been pushing myself to find my limits, while withholding me from enjoying the less adventurous moments. I could barely enjoy a slow summer in Denmark, when comparing myself to the lives of the people around me on Facebook, leaving for exotic internships and what not.
The latter is beyond the point of this summary though, and should only function as a starting point for perhaps another essay. Now considering that you’ve already made it to my page, and hopefully will take the effort to read through the stories that I have put together, I would still like to state the obvious; these stories are cherry picked over the last year(s). Not all days were adventures, and like everyone else, even I love to spend a night or two on the couch, curled up in a blanket, eating pizza and watching shows.
A final clarification, before we get into the good stuff. 2015 will be the fourth consecutive year of which I will have made a summary. The thought behind this self-imposed obligation is the hopeful thought that years from now, when the flame of adventure has found its calm without flares or flickering, I will be able to look back upon one of the most exciting parts of my life, and smile. And the more vividly I capture my stories, the better I will be able to recollect them, relive them, and even retell them to whomever cares to listen, allowing my adventures to shine far beyond their momentum.
With this preface in place, I believe I am ready to shed some more light on the last year. A year in which I moved abroad yet again, put myself to the test, and was reminded that persistence is an invaluable part of success. All of this, and more, started in January and February.
January & February
To fully capture the beginning of the year, I have to go back a number of hours before the actual start of the year. At the time, I was five days away from the first official deadlines of my masters at KU. My days both started and ended in darkness, and the thought of a NYE party with some of my friends and fellow students was one of the few things that kept my spirit up. As I clear my desk hours before the moment suprème, I find out that the original plans had been cancelled, and for a moment, I panic, until my dear roommate takes me under her wing. Now before you continue reading, put your judgment aside. No, seriously. Don’t be so judgmental. Good. She invites me to a party at her Scientology church. In all fairness, the ‘party’ was lovely, the food was delicious, and the people were delightful. A little strange, but delightful. My January 1st starts with 4 distinct messages, sent to me approximately an hour after I fell asleep. Oh boy, how unfortunate was I for not being awake at the time. The rest of the first is spent in bed, watching Disney movies and eating Thai food.
The following days become a blur and are completely spent in the library, where I complete 2 twenty page papers approximately half an hour before their deadline. Now where the typical Dane would now have three weeks off, I thought an intensive Danish course would be an excellent remedy for a brain sore from studying. Luckily, I was right, and with new friends and a forsmukke Danish teacher, the next three weeks go by fast. During those days, my roommate invites me to be a part of her next videoclip. After spending 6 hours parading my cape in the fierce Copenhagen wind, the video is done. The month ends with a visit from two of the warmest people I know, Pablo and Rachael. I show my first official visitors the city, and they show me that there is more to the city than my unfulfilling university.
With February knocking, I organize the first mentor dinner for ‘my’ group of international students. Back in my role as organizer rather than participant, I feel right at home. Or maybe it were the endearing individuals from around the world that did this. For Carnaval I escape the city to explore Odense with my dear Elena and Martin. Odense exists because of H.C., is cold, yet has better parties. February ends with what I refer to as the highlight of my year. Now I hope no one stops reading after this, because there’s good stuff later on too, but this just takes the crown.
Around Oktober 2014, when my situation finally improves a little, I can’t shake the feeling of missing the Dutch student traditions. With a wild thought in my head, I approach the QA Programme, Studenterhuset, and whomever likes to hear what I have to say. I wanted to organize a Copenhagen Cantus. Danish society being what it is, this idea takes months to take flight, but when it does, I huff, and I puff, and manage to blow air right under its wings. All parties involved ‘consent’, for lack of a better word, and together with my first cantus committee, we bring together an approximate 90 students. As singers, my amazing fellow former board members from I*ESN Tilburg visit from the Netherlands. As I wash away the stress, and burgers too, with Schrobbeler, I make yet another inspection round. Visitors were meant to be on the guestlist, which had been updated nearly every day before the event, and I wanted to stick with fire regulations. Through the door that I had been guarding, Elisa, Yvonne, Sven and Maria walk in, and while the world is running around, I stop. You want to know if you have incredible friends? This is how you know: They drove all the way from the Netherlands to Denmark, bribed one of my committee members, and joined the cantus under fake names. I lost my words, my control of the situation, and by nothing more than their hugs, I start again, and so does the best cantus of my entire life. The crowd needs a little more than three songs, but with my international guests, Jordy in charge of the punishments, and all of us slowly getting drunk, we wrote history. People spitting in each others’ faces, drinking from shoes, and all for the love of beer. Once more, to all of you who came that night, thank you, for you made me the happiest man in Copenhagen. Until I was soaked in beer, rushed to the toilet to throw up, and came back to find the crowd chanting ‘Philip’ instead of ‘Willem’. Ready for the next months?
March & April
Writing the following months, I must admit not everything might have come back to me as vividly as I once hoped, considering that I am writing this in August instead of January. Long story short, my laptop was unavailable and I had lost my previous paragraphs.
Around March, I figured I really wanted to see a little more of the Danish country, and joined a wide variety of people on a bussy adventure. In retrospect, we did a ton of things. We dipped our feet in the clashing seas at Skagen, scuffled through the moving Dunes, spent the night in the longest bar street in Aalborg, and then wandered around some more in the AROS museum (rainbow famous) & shot past Odense. Highlight of the trip was definitely the lack of people in our hostel bunk and the hotel balcony!
Having seen everyone else in the Fall semester, and a number of my friends in the Spring semester, heading to Lapland, I knew that for the rest of my life I would regret. Lonesome me spent the first days and a half in a frozen tomb called Helsinki, and from then on the trip was basically a succession of incredible events. On the night bus I met two of my favorite people on this planet, and together we ran into the arctic ocean across the Norwegian border, rode reindeer and fell while leading a pack of huskies (in a bright pink flurry), and alternated between vodka shots in our bare butts in the Finnish sauna and dips in the snow under a magnetic sky whirling with the Northern Lights. In all, the trip was filed under ‘best trip ever’.
With March sliding into April, I did a ton of other things too, always having this blog in mind. Luckily that went by eventually. Together with a number of fellow students, we organized the KUA Cognition Conference, which in the end was a surprising success. That evening I roamed the campus to recruit volunteers for the Copenhagen Summer Cantus, because the Faculty Director decided that he would not give his green light just yet. Next day, I fly to the Netherlands for Tilburg Zingt & Kingsday and I wonder if all the money was worth it, especially since I just missed the biggest I*ESN cantus. Ending April, I visit Berlin, which is much different from what I expected in terms of the entire experience. My clepto-co traveler booked a bus instead of a train, which we missed. The city was much larger (and more modern) than I expected, and despite it all I did manage to see my ESN friends, and explore the deeply rooted culture that makes Berlin (Brandenburg Tor, the wall, checkpoint Charly). And all to end with a giant gamble in order to venture home, and into the next two months.
May & June
May, the month I am writing approximately a year and a half post-factum, starts with the official news that the van Wickle gates would open for many, including me. Brown was in the pocket, but other matters were more pressing at the time.
I remember how most of my time was allotted to the organization of the Copenhagen Summer Cantus. After the remarkable success that was the Copenhagen Cantus, I felt that a second cantus was long overdue, and together with my ragtag team of students we started the organization of an event that went well beyond the previous cantus. Together with my roommates efforts an actual band was secured, under the watchful eye of my committee I was able to persuade the Faculty Director that the ultimate celebration of brotherhood was meant to take place at the Festsalen, and with a mere 2 weeks of promotion, we pulled off a gathering with almost a 150 visitors from 27 countries! The Wilhelmus was sang, punishments were given, and in the end the cantus ended in a blissful drunken haze of red, white and blue (partially due to the university misplacing an entire keg of beer after the cantus).
The following days both Julia and Koen make their arrival in Copenhagen, and are part of vastly different experiences. Julia and I dance the night away at an impromptu silent disco, whereas Koen experiences the hard rains of the city after our bike ride to Dyrehaven. Not to mention the escalated rum pre-drink, leading up to the Gatsby party.
Yet all suns set and soon I found myself at the desks of the KUA library till the break of dawn once again. However, surprisingly, I was not alone this time. On occasion I worked sided by friends, but always near my companion Rene, who had the same deadlines due as me. I remember how one night the clock passed 5 and I still had to find my way home, and another, when we threw the skippy balls off the second floor. Despite the discouraging hours, the papers came with relative ease.
June ended on unexpectedly happy notes. Maria joins me in Copenhagen on a Erasmus ending adventure including a visit to Tivoli and a surprise from the window cleaners. Numerous goodbyes pass from my fantastic mentor group. Then, Sofie invites ‘the gang’ on a visit to their parental home in Thy. The train is delayed, while Evie fights to contain her excitement to meet Sofie’s brother. During that weekend, our mother of dragons takes on through their estate, drives us to the beach, and makes room for her parents to torture us with traditional Danish schnaps for breakfast and dinner. Concluding, the month ends with Distortion in the streets of Norrebro and Vesterbro. The streets are flooded with people, sunshine, and the deep drums of techno music. The second night, I even lose my friends, join a Spanish speaking community, and have trouble finding my way home. A month with ups and downs.
July & August
As the weather (FINALLY) starts to improve, Roskilde Festival makes its appearance in the grand scheme of things. Last minute peer pressure provides me with a ticket. Together with ‘the Danish Squad’ as I have come to call them, we challenged our livers in a 10 day drinking frenzy. The first four days are spent tent drinking and beer bowling (you actually sit in a chair, throw either a ball or a Converse shoe, and aim for the beer can on the other side of the pitch). A game without a competitor. As the heat strikes, mornings are spent floating out of the sun struck tents, while spending the afternoons eating, drinking, and seeing key performances. Personally, Kygo (literally) stole the show. Months of pre-Roskilde preparation made this moment a lasting memory. The festival ends with Sir Paul McCartney, while the squad stands arm in arm. An ending that was worthy of the festival.
The day after, I fly to the Netherlands to surprise my younger brother at his graduation ceremony and spend the week with family and friends. Back in Denmark the stress for the collection of the right documents for the US gets to me. Acceptance letters, Embassy visits, visa requests… but all for a greater good. Also, Marina and I finally travel to Monsklint, Louise drives me to Tisvilleje beach, and I organize a goodbye barbecue to which I invite most of my remaining Danish friends. An unexpected fellowship, but one of which I hold fond memories. The day pre-departure, I take my friend Eline on an inaugural night of partying, during which I snap the most stunning picture of the final sunrise over Nyhavn.
My favorite roommate escorts me to the departure area on the 17th of August, and yet another adventure begins.
During my first minutes in Iceland, I happen to stumble upon Karolina at the airport. Soon after, Lilja picks me up with her little silver car, barely able to carry all my luggage. For the next 3 days, she is my personal tour guide, and Reykjavik our unexplored destination. From the Golden circle, to whale watching, Reykjavik proved to be fantastic, but nothing could top the final day spent entirely in the Blue Lagoon.
On my birthday, I receive delightful snaps, a business class seat, and my first small iced cappuccino from TIM HORTONS. Sebastian picks me up from Pearson International Airport and his family’s basement is mine for the next few days. However brief, during my Canadian visit I have so many love filled reconnections. Sebastian’s family takes care of my in every way, Michelle and I have a chickenwing frenzy, Janine takes me to a beach near her hometown, with Anna we dance the night away one last time at Phils, and Deepiga shows me the endearing details of her Toronto. My only regret is reunion of La Bastille, but perhaps the future holds this card.
After an exhausting NINETEEN hour bus ride, I finally find a pause in my journey in Providence, where I take the wrong bus… twice. Eventually I find my way to Amy street, where the front door key is left under a broken vase. Jess hooked me up with a couch in her house for my days of homelessness, and Phil, Jess and Walter Shrimp (the cat) give me a warm welcome for the first days. August ends sunny.
September & Oktober
Whether it was August or September, around that time my Game of Thrones inspired post catches the attention of the inhabitants of Wickenden 230. Days after I moved in I knew the extended Dickenden family and I were a match made in heaven. My walking distance campus is perfect, my street is buzzing, for as far as that was a thing in wicked Wickenden, and my roommates sing, swear and sit around. Life is good. On September 8th, convocation day arrives. Now if you have done any research on Brown’s traditions, convocation is when the van Wickle gate opes for the ceremonial procession of new students into the academic world, followed by a commencement speech. And this is where my memory is really clear again, two years later, because after the commencement Sandra took a fantastic photo of me, and together with her and Juhi we went for the best tasting milkshake (at Johnny Rockets) that I have had in my life so far. Strawberry. While at Brown I figured I should take up some sports to acquaint myself with the local students. Now I figured that in general knowing some ballroom dancing would be pretty advantageous for my future, and occasionally I go to classes. On the first Friday of lectures I happen to get lost on my way to my lecture, and while strolling back I see some students playing Quidditch on the main green. One game in and I am sold. Running, throwing… all great if it weren’t for that damned broom between your legs! For the rest of the first months, while the readings are not piling up, Jess and I feel the Bern in Boston for an evening, we spend a morning watching the Brown – Yale football game, and Mathieu drives all the way down from Montréal to share some whiskey shots! Tabarnaque, what a slitchy time! Oh, and the final highlight is a weekend away to Cape Cod with Dickenden. The trip there, what a high, video games, gazing at the stars, watching seals at the beach, what more could you ask for in roommates?
November and December
With the days growing shorter, academic responsibilities steadily grow larger. Most of my days are spent reading and writing articles, and various locations for study are explored. In the midst of all these academics, I luckily do manage to find other ways to occupy myself. One of them is by winning the regional Quidditch championship with the Providence Ashwinders. This leads me to one of the highlights of 2015, namely the Ivy Leadership Conference at Harvard University. Now, as a kid with any ambition, you hope to set foot in Harvard at least once in your life, regardless of your purpose there. But being invited to participate in a conference is a whole other game. In all, the most important learning to take from Harvard is that they know how to throw a party, and that you should avoid rubbing ‘lucky’ objects. Not to mention visiting its bathrooms. In other words, John Harvard, please forgive me. Furthermore, the month of November ends with a super sunny spectacle in North Carolina. At the airport I get my shoes brushed, which is a god given delight. Everything goes well during my first domestic flight experience, until I am stopped at the door of my airplane. Guess what, I was booted off my flight. Semi-stressed I wait for assistance from the airline, and a little less than an hour later they offer me a significant compensation for my missed flight and book me onto a new one. Later that day I arrive in Raleigh, and together with almost-Danish darling Evie, I spent the next few days exploring a new state. Sunny beach? Check! Traditional thanksgiving dinner? Check! A full American tailgate? Check! One more it is confirmed that having friends from all over the world is a blessing.
Back in Providence after a 19 hour bus ride, deadlines present themselves, leaving me to seek refuge in the SciLi long after the sun had risen again. All-nighters almost become a regular occurrence, and mutual support is found in Mariana, who was always there for a midnight adventure. In the meanwhile I continue to apply for embassies, with marginal amounts of success. Yet, once again, persistence proves to be the crucial ingredient for success. Out of an approximately 20 applications, I end up with 3 interviews. Some go well, others less so. One morning at 10h00 AM, I notice I have an email in my inbox, and as I upload one of my last remaining papers, I allow myself to open up the email. I mumble a short hail Mary before I start reading, and the further I read the more my heart starts to pound. Finally, redemption. Oslo wants me as an intern! -now I will exclude the South-African side story here- and focus on my blissful morning. With only a single paper left, and starting preparation for Oslo, my beloved roommate Aaron invites me to Boston for New Years. I happily accept, and live with his family for the next few days in the suburbs of Boston. Time to find peace after a tumultuous number of weeks, in the snow surrounded house. The year officially ends at the Boston Common, after searching for the fireworks of that night. The actual celebration is not so eventful, but the tranquil environment certainly did me well.
Now it would be unfair not to note that the final commentary to this post is written only 19 months after the described events. All I can give now is a perspective from the future. A perspective that evaluates the year from a distance. With this in mind, I would like to say that persistence once again proved paramount. Without it I would not have made my way into the Ivy League, nor would I have had the opportunity to set foot into the world of diplomacy, and everything else on my path. What this really all comes down to is two clichés; ‘Keep your head up’ and ‘Nothing worth having ever comes easy’. I remember how I felt when writing the preface of this post. I felt like everyone else’s life was measured against mine, and getting ahead was impossible. I had to compete, live abroad, be adventurous. And in retrospect, I am happy to see that I lost that urge. My rush for adventure is no longer fueled by a sense of competition, but instead relies on my ambitions. I do what I want. I go where I want to. And no one can stop me.
Don’t believe me? Just watch!
